Apparatus for electrically charging fluids



E. E. LITTLEFIELD. APPARATUS FOR ELEGTBICALLY CHARGING FLUIDS. APFLICATHJN men act. 24, ms.

1,360,654. Pawnted Nov. 30, 1920.

2 SHEETS---SHEET l/I/l/l/l/II/II/IA I5 Q 3 Q Q m w W a Inventor EdgarE 'ttldield 1M tamg E. E. LITTLEFIELDi APPARATUS ron ELECTRICAkLY CHARGING FLUIDS.

KPPLICATION FILED 0(3- 24, [916.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2- Patented Nov. 30, 1920.

.Znvcn for Efdgar JMZ ELilllef'lcld I aunt-ac To all wlwm it may concem:

UNITED STAT ES PATENT OFFICE.

Continuation of application Serial llo. 482,599,!1cd Karoii- 10, 1809.

. l 1918. semill'q. 127,838.

' Be it known that I Enoan Eaann Ln'rnnrinm, a citizen of'the United States, and of Seattle, county of.

resident of the city King,and State of Washington, have invented certain newfand .useful- Im rovements in Apparatus for Electrically harging Fluids, of which the -following is a,

specification,

My invention relates to apparatus for .fluids an electrical charge, of such c aracter that when the fluid is discharged,

as by spraying, the electrical charge will.

be carried to and deposited upon which the fluid falls.

The object of my invention isto; provide an improved apparatus for securing these results. these means to electrically charge fluids which are, or may. be, applied to vegetation to thereb pro uce upon the vegetation the stimu ati'ng, effect which electricity is upon the objects known to have thereon and furtherto ,tree it i of fungous or insect pests when applied under su table conditions.

I have also applied these means to charge F .the

.forinof device shown in 3.

Specification of Letters Patent- Patented .NOV. 3.0, 1920.

This application flied October 24,

in sectional elevation, which is actuated by the fluid discharge.

1 2 shows certain features as added to evice shown in Fig. 1. Fig. 3 showsaform of a paratus, partly in section, b means of whie a fluid may be charged wit electricity supplied from any convenient independent source.

may be applied in combination with the Fig. 5 is an elevation an partial section of a 1: pc of device operating under the princip es of an ordinary dynamic genera- 7 tor.

In particular, I have employed.

fluids which are, or may be, used-in connec-.-

tion withshower baths, or the like, to thereby apply the stimulating efl'ect of electricity to the user.

While it would be desirable in many cases to use the. fluid in a comparatively pure state I contemplate that advantage may betaken of the increased efl'ect, in some cases, result:

in from the employment of certain chemica with which the fluid may he charged. It is often desirable to charge fluids which issue, or are discharged, from a source having a grounded connection and, under such conditions, unless proper means are employed, the fluid can carry charge. By means which have employed the fluid maybe charged by influence, or induction, in which case it may, ormay not have a grounded source, as thenature the case ma require.

This app 'cation is acontinuation of my plication, Serial No. 482599, filed March ve tation.

the drawings have shown forms of .o yed in car- .ryingput; my invention and which are now apparatus which may be emp] referred b me. p Figure 1 i; a to'rm of device, shown partly.

and physical condition and vigor p a Fig. 6 shows an upper 'plan view of certain parts of the'device shown in Fig. 5.

Fig. 7 shows modified fo terminal .and discharging device.

Fi 8 is a section on line 8-8 of Fig. 5. It been found, as a resultof scientific experiments, that w'at'er and other fluids ma when discharged as a spray, be charged wit electricity, and it is generalllyl recognized that electricity properly app 'ed, has a beneficial and stimulating eflect upon vegetation.

I have conceived the idea of charging water used to spray, or water, vegetation with electricity, whereby the vc tation so treated will be stimulated and its proved.

I also contemplate that the water may,

' when desired, be charged chemically with no appreciable 1909', and. entitled Electric treatment of such substances as have-been found to have a beneficial efi'ect, either in stimulating Fig. 4 shows a type of deflector which owth e imoficharging plant growth, or by way of having an in: jurious efl'ect upon the fungous or-insect pests to which the ,vegetation may be sub- By the employment'of chemicals I am also enabled to increase the potentialof a charge carried by the fluid, and by addingthe electrical charge to the chemicallycharged fluid, the chemical. action is-increased By these'means, either separately or combined, as may fit the occasion, I am em abled to stimulate the growth of vegetation or free it of ests, or to do both at once.

In Fi 1 have shown a form of apparaios tus in w job the fluid in being discharged,

impinges upon a deflector,'or similar dev ce, which also acts as a motor and is operatively connected with an electric generator, the

roduct of which is transferred to the escaping fluid b which it is applied to the vegetation, or ot or object along with the fluid.

In the practice 0% my invention the fluid cal connection with the spindle 8, which extends within the sleeve 7, and through which it may be grounded. As the discharged fluid forms into spray in the inducing. field of ma be supplied from any convenient source the terminal 100 it receives an induced or an while, in some cases it mi ht be debound charge which it may carry and deliver. sirable to use a source wholly insu ated from to an object at a distancefrom thecharging a ground connection, I also contemplate that device. the source may; be uninsulated from the Under certain conditions the fluid, instead ground connection, as, for instance, an ordiof receiving its charge by induction, may be '15 narv hose cbnnection with a water main. 'charged by contact with the charging termi- Where it is desirable'to use an insulated nal. Where this is desired to. rought source, an insulated tank and conduit may be about the deflector is so formed and po'siemployed to deliver the fluid and the tank tioned that the fluid has freedom ofcontact insulated from its source of fluid supply with the terminal a a a during the operation of'the charging device. The electrical generator above described is In the device as shown in Fig. 1, the pipe preferably inclosed within a boxyor casing, 19 conveys the fluid to the dischar ing device 17, to. which the spindle 8 is preferably con- 4, which breaks'it' up into a num er of jets. nected at its upper end through the insulat- This consists of a chamber closed at the top, ing bolts, or screws, 3 and 30. These bolts, but provided with discharge openings 40. for which othermeans of an insulating char- Supported above the dischargecham er 4, 'acter may be, substituted, also ecure other in position to beengaged by the fluid disparts of the device.- Within this casing hnd charge, is a deflector 6, which also functions adjacent therotatable disk 14, is the stationas an impulse or impact motor. This defleca'ry disk lfiwhich constitutes a part of the tor, asshown, consists of a cone having ang'ugenerator. This disk 16 is of glass or other larl disposed vanes 60, projecting from its material hav' like electrical qualities, as is sur ace in such position as to be engaged by also disk l l. here are other details of a the fluid discharge to thereby rotate the generator of this sort which I have not whole. This deflector may be of insulatin shown butfwliich are recognized as being 9 material ornot andof any convenient an associatedWithsuchmachines-andforming suitable form, as the case may require. In component partsthereof. this form of generator the essential thing is In Fi 2 I have shown, how magnets may to'use a device whichis both a deflector and be associated with the foregoing described a power generator, so that the fluid, acting generator to overcome certain conditions,in-,1 upon it, operates the generator. Provisions eluding in .some'cases atmospheric condifor axial adjustment may-be provided, as a tions, and to otherwise increase theeffective set screw 11. ness of the enerator. This-result may be In this form of device the deflector is accomplishe by so ositioning and securing mounted to turn on an insulating sleeve, or v the magnets 15 an 18 that their fields of: .105 stem 7, or is in other ways electrically insuforce are out by. the rotating disk 14 and: its lated from the chamber 4, and the pipes armatureandnecessai'y associated supplying the fluid. Preferably, this de- Th se means inay iilso be ,v iated filth flector is also insulated from the generating other, generators of similar. character," do device, which resultI-have shownas being pending-o theres g lt's tgi'beobtained;1 secured by mounting it upon a sleeve 9 o '1 In Fig.3 Ihave how i mint-n11 o fdevioe by any suitable insulatingmaterial. These two l e fluid may charged parts are secured to turn together. ricit delivered from any conven- A metallic sleeve 10 is secured to turnyg'ithi "*t Ii-conductor 80. This the sleeve'il and the deflector, and preferably h gh fl-guoncy character is provided with a depending petticoat 100, supply may be deve oped in any canor such other construction as may best sBrYqJv-eni tmanner. -Th e terminal 2 receives the as a dis ha ging t m n l I electrically inducing charges through. the conducting charging the escaping fluid. *Tl'ie'i'i'pper or stem which is insulated from the discharging tion of the sleeve 10 is secured to the dis 114 idevice b the sleeve 170 which is snu 1y an ug which gneans the latter e eit adjustab y fitted'in'the discharging eviee. rotate-with the deflector 6. The chamber 4 is rovided with discharge A current collecting device, herein shown e en &0 which eliver the fluid in apath as a comb, 12, ismounted adj acent. the d sk w ich is in the inducingfieldofthe terminal at one side and a similar devioe 1'3' on the 2. When desirable the terminal 2 maybe r same side but distant--fro'in its companion comb; The comb 12 is in, electrical contact discharge terminal 100'. The comb 13 is insulatecl from the other comb and is in, electri 'coated or covered withsuch insulating ma in combination with the device shown terial' as has been found suitable for.sucli with the'sleeve 10 and through this with the a 1 1g. 4 shows how a deflector may be usedas that shown in Fig charging terminal and the field electrically charged from 1n rigid connection as by shaft charging terminal 21 .mrbwmrlq scope of my invention. It is evident that great variation Fig. 3. Its position may be' adjusted'as by set screw 11. If it is desired to charge the fluid b contact with the charging terminal the de ector may beso positioned as to make thispo'ssible. i

Instead of the foregoing described devices, I may employ such an electrical generator 5.- In this case the fluid is made to actuate a rotatable member which, preferably, is-in the form ofa turbine 62, which has angularly placed blades 63, upon which impinge jets issuing from ofienin 42 in plate '4 which forms part'of t e wa l of chamber 41. The fluidis then discharged as a spray through the large orifices 43, through dischargterminals 20. his 'member,turbine.62 for which may be substituted any other suitable means, has

permanent .ma V tated with re erence to the field coils 51. While I have shown the magnets 5 as being rotatable it is also possible to secure like 2& results by rotating an armature in the field of permanent magnets. v

The discharging terminals may be of any suitable form or construction. In cases where. grounding a part of the charge is found tobe necessary, any convenient means may be employed for the purpose. .The art' 70 forms part of a c osed chamber which be inserted in the ground. It may also partly form the upper part of a standard.

In Fig. 7 I have shown modified forms of discharging .device. As the jets of fluid issue from the insulated chambered head 45 through openings 40 they receive a charge from the annular charge from any convenient source of static charge 66. Though not entirely necessary, the head 45 is preferably made of earthenware or other insulating material and is adjustably supported by the supply pipe.

foregoing constructions are shown and described in more or less rudimentary form and as instances of types of apparatus which yed and as illustratin the in forms and construction of apparatus may be em loyed without departingVffi-om'the spirit 0 my. invention.

ere desired the charge maybe supplied from an independent source'and a plied to charge a flllld asit isappli-ed to t e vegetation in the form of a stream.

elude, or be associated with, a

Under di'flerent 'cbnditions"diflerent "intensities and character of charge may be used and any suitable means employed to apply it, as for instance, such means as might inhigh frequency generator, or a transformer, or the like.

I have also .found that an inducing charge 7 the fluid into spray. This eflect ma 64, with the ets 5 and 50, whichare r0 the charged fluid ap lied in man vice. B y chemicall be a pointed closed tubeand adapted to which. receives its alone may be emplof'ed to form a fluid into spray. I have foun that where a jet of fluid issues under the influence of an inducing field of force the charge has the efl'ect of forming be used either alone or. in. combination wit deflectingmeans.

' The inducingterminalsdescribed in.the foregoing should be so formed that the induced char delivered. to the fluid is substantially tie maximum charge capable of being delivered b I the charg1ng terminal.

' In other words, t e forniand construction is such that the fluid receives a charge from that surface, or part of the inducing terminal which is capable of delivering the most eflective charge.- ere a-convective char is emplo ed the form of the terminal may modifie to meetthe requirements.

. It is evident that with myin-vention variousfluids' maybe electrically char ed and difl'erent ways. It may also used-in ectrostatic separation, and the like, and for purposes of atomization. I contemplate using either relatively pure or chemically charge 'liquidswith this de-' charging the liquids an Insecticide or a fu 'cide may-be used. The effect of theeleetrical charge u on the chemi-- cal, it is believed,-,will intensify its action.

What I asmy invention is:

1. r The combination with a liquid dischar ing device of means actuatedby said discharge to electrify the liquiddischarged.

2. The combination with a liquid discharging device of a generator of electric the liquid discharged and means for electricall charged liquid from said generator.

3. The combination with a liquid discharging device of a rotary electric generator and means for electrical y char 'ngthe liquid discharged from said liquid ischarging de- .vice.

4. The combination witha li uid discharging device of means, actuate by the discharged liquid to generate an electric charge and means for asplying the electricity thus enerated to in "c arged Ii'q'uidf 5. The combination with a device for dis charging fluid-upon vegetation, of a genera:

tor of electromotive force operated by the discharge of the fluid and connected to electrically charge the discharged fluid.

, 6. The combination with 'a fluid discharge w a ge. he. die.

ing device,;o f arotatabledeflector actuated.

by the dischargeof fluid, and an electric generatingdevice operated by said deflector and feedlng its charge into the fluid dis- 7. he combination with a fluid discharging device, of a rotatable member actuated by the fluid discharge, a static electric generator having one part thereof turned by said member, said generator being connected source, means for ispersing the fluid, and.

to discharge the electricity generated thereby into the fluid discharge.

8. The combination with a fluid spraying device, of means" for giving the spray a 'boundjcharge of electricity, said means including 'a rotatable electrically charged terminal in inductive relation with the fluid discharge. I

'9. The combination with a fluid discharging deviceand means for electrically chargin'gthe fluid, of means for generating electricity actuated by the fluid and connected with said fluid charging means;

10.. A fluid suppl having an uninsulated means without the path of the fluidfor giving the particles of said fluid' an electric I I the form of spray. p

A fluidspraymg device comprising, a 1

charge. 7

11. An apparatus for electrically charging a fluid comprising a'fluid conduit and a spray device supplied therebyand means for glvmg the fluid an electric charge through a dielectric; as it is discharged 1n source of fluid, a spray producing member, a

charg ng terminal disposed centrally of and adapted to inductively charge the spray, and

means for charging said terminal.

\ 13 A device for applying electric char es to a fluid spray comprislng, a source of fluid,

- a spray forming device, means for inductively charging the particles'of the spray, sald means being insulated frbm the spray device. a n

14, A device for applying electric charges to a fluid spray compr sing, an uninsulated or inductively charging said fluid withelectricity.

16. A device electrically'charging a fluid spray having a. charge inducing meniber spaced at a distance from the path 'of the spray.

17. A fluid spraying devicefor electrically charging a fluid spray having a member which is spaced rom"and,adapted to form a field of ,force in the patli of the fluid spray.

18. 'A device for electrically treating vegetation comprisin agspray device avmg means for electrically charging the spray through adielectric. 19. As an article of manufacture, a device for electrically charging fluid vapor or spray.

including an uninsulated source of fluid and means for projecting a field of fforce into the path of the fluid. J Signed at Seattle; Washington; this 19th 'day of Qctober, 1916. j i 

